read with us: a book chosen by another

Welcome to our February update for the 2016 MMD Reading Challenge! This month, we read a book that someone else chose for us. Let's just say our results were a little less than spectacular!

Our books this month were The Martian, The Lost Garden, The Eye of the World, and Pride and Prejudice.

Becky's book: The Martian by Andy Weir, chosen by Val

Val says: I was SO excited for Becky to read The Martian – it wasn’t so much that I thought it was the perfect book for her specifically, it was more that I read it and loved it SO MUCH that I was desperate for anyone and everyone to read it, too! The Martian is everything you could want in a book – it’s suspenseful, engaging, and funny – I really didn’t expect it to be so funny! Technically this book is sci-fi, but don’t let that keep you from reading it. It is a total delight.

Becky says: I am so glad Val picked this book for me! I haven't seen the movie yet, and I knew I wanted to read the book first, but without this push, I probably wouldn't have.

Prior to beginning the novel, this is what I knew: An astronaut left behind on Mars survives by eating potatoes. And there's science.

Here's what actually happens: Mark Watney, a member of the Ares 3 crew, is presumed dead and left on Mars when a storm comes up and the mission is aborted. He has to figure out a way to survive until the next Ares crew arrives. Through ingenuity and lots of crazy science, he manages to stay alive.

The Martian is hilarious! It's the funniest book I've read in ages, and I wasn't anticipating that, even though people said it was funny. (I guess I should have believed them...) There is so much science in the book, and I'm not exactly a science kind of girl, yet it never gets overwhelming or boring. Most of the book is comprised of Watney's journal entries, and that's where the hilarity comes in. He's witty, sarcastic, and just plain funny--which is pretty amazing, considering his circumstances. Once he is (SPOILER ALERT!) finally back in contact with NASA, he continues to crack jokes on a regular basis ... including a very well timed "that's what she said" joke.

I so badly wanted Watney to survive, and I loved reading about the ups and downs as he tried to do just that. This is easily the most fun I've had reading so far this year. One thing to note, though: There is a lot of swearing in this book. So if you have a problem with excessive language (seriously, it begins in the very first line), then I'd skip the novel and go straight for the movie. (I still haven't seen the movie yet, but it's rated PG-13, so the filmmakers must have toned down the language. The language just on the first page of the novel would push it into R category.)

Val's book: The Lost Garden by Katharine Swartz, chosen by Becky

Becky says: When it comes to reading material, let's just say that Val and I rarely ever choose the same books. The majority of my reading is in the realm of Christian fiction, a genre Val gave up on in the 8th grade. Every once in awhile, I come across a book that doesn't feel like Christian fiction, one that seems like something Val would enjoy. The Lost Garden is one such book. I loved it so much that it made my Top 10 list in 2015, and I wanted to share it with Val. (See my review.) Also, how could you not be attracted to a book with that cover? Gorgeous!

Val says: Becky chose The Lost Garden by Katharine Swartz for me.  It’s a dual-story plot – following Eleanor in 1918 after the conclusion of World War I, and following Marin and Rebecca in present-day. All three characters are facing great loss – Eleanor’s brother, Walter, was killed in the war, and Marin has just been given custody of Rebecca, her 15-year-old half-sister, because their father and Rebecca’s mother were killed in a car accident.  Marin and Rebecca end up living right next door to Eleanor’s old house, and they discover a walled garden that Eleanor helped plan.

It took me a while to get into this book.  I did not find Eleanor immediately likeable, and I felt that some of her reactions to events felt off – untrue to the situation.  But as the book progressed, I didn’t notice those issues anymore, and after about 50 pages in, I was very interested in both storylines.  I haven’t finished the book yet (I have about 50 pages left), and I’m excited for the unresolved questions in both storylines to be answered. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the post-WWI time-period, or anyone looking for an engaging book with a compelling storyline that isn’t too emotionally taxing.

This is what Val's cat Chloe thought of the book.

Steph's book: The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, chosen by our brother Andrew
Steph says: Our brother picked my book for me. It was The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan. I didn’t make it past the first page for two very important reasons: 1) this book is the most intimidating thing I’ve ever picked up. Only two people that I know gave encouraging opinions of this thing. They are also the only two that like epics. 2) I was added to a committee at church that was meeting extra the entire month of February. That meant I didn’t get home until about 10 o’clock four nights of the week. I already get sucked into books and have a hard time putting them down so that I can sleep. An epic this month was just not going to happen. You will be seeing my thoughts on this book when we reach our “books that intimidate you” portion of our challenge—when I will *hopefully* not be working on surprise projects.

Susan's book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, chosen by Steph
Steph says: For our mother, I picked Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen because it is my favorite book and one that I have reread 8 or 9 times. It is witty, it is clever, and Lizzy is just my spirit animal. She has grace, class, and just the right amount of sass. All of the characters are wonderfully realistic and ridiculous in turn. The book has such a fun look at what family life is like. I asked mom to read it because she never has, and that just had to be fixed. 

Susan says: When I began reading the book, I really found it not that interesting. However, now I think it was because of the version Becky lent me. The book is beautiful, but it has small, old fashioned looking print.

I switched to my Kindle, where I'm reading the "insight edition" with notes prepared by Bethany House Publishers. The foreword was written by Nancy Moser, who wrote a novel about Austen's life called Just Jane, and as soon as I read it, I couldn't wait to read the Pride and Prejudice! In the body of the book, there are sidebars about terms or meanings of words, and the type is so much easier to read. I have been fascinated! I "hear" Colin Firth's voice when I read Darcy's lines. I am enjoying it very much! The ease with which I can read it makes it better. I haven't finished reading the book yet, but I'm looking forward to reading more!

Have you read any of these books? We'd love to hear your thoughts! And be sure to join us again next month, when we're each reading a book published this year!

Flashback: See what we read in January.

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in defense of "fuller house"

This is what I did during lunch today...

If you haven't been living under a rock, you probably know that Fuller House, the Full House reboot/continuation hit Netflix today. I've been VERY excited to see this--after all, Full House was my favorite show before Dean Cain as Superman came along and stole my heart. 

When the critics' reviews started coming in, I wasn't too concerned. After all, Full House wasn't a critical darling, either. But I haven't seen a single positive review from a critic. The best review I saw was from TVLine, which gave the premiere a B-. Hilariously, EW gave the show a C- and the first episode an F. Really, an F? 

Here's the thing: Full House was never considered edgy, and it looks like Fuller House won't be either. And that's exactly what I want--a sweet family sitcom that reminds me of a simpler time.

I've only watched the first episode so far, but here's my snap judgement:

From the opening strains of the original theme song, which opens the first episode, to the side-by-side old and new images of the cast in the opening credits, to "Forever," to every catch phrase the show ever spawned being uttered at least once, Fuller House presses practically every nostalgia button imaginable. And I loved it.

The good (besides what I've already mentioned):

• Everyone easily slips back into their roles--especially the three who will carry the series: Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, and Andrea Barber.
• Steve and D.J. still have chemistry ... and both are single. The producers, at least if the first episode is any indication, are determined to give the people what they want, so I have high hopes for the happily ever after that I always assumed Steve and D.J. found.
• Andrea Barber (Kimmy Gibbler) is hilarious. Her comedic timing is spot on!
• Steve's dog is Comet Jr. Jr.--of course there's a Comet!

The bad:

• The first half of the premiere is so focused on nostalgia that the actual plot doesn't really exist. This is especially apparent in the opening scene, which is more about recognizing each actor than anything else.
• While Fuller House is definitely tamer and more family appropriate than anything not found on the Disney or Hallmark Channels, I still cringed when Kimmy's ex talked about how well-versed she was in the Kama Sutra. Wouldn't want to have to explain that to a kid!
• The Olsen twins joke: When it's said that Michelle isn't coming home because she's building her fashion empire, everyone turns to the camera and gives withering looks. This would be amusing, except it goes on far too long. It ended up feeling mean spirited, not funny.

The big question:

• Joey is clearly wearing a wedding ring--but no wife is ever mentioned. Does Joey have a secret Vegas family?

Here's what it boils down to: Fuller House is a love letter to Full House fans. If you weren't a fan of the original, you probably won't like this. But if you were, and you still enjoy sweet, family-friendly programming, then you'll definitely want to give Fuller House a look.

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five friday favorites #22: week of feb. 19, 2016

This is a Friday that could not have come soon enough. I do have to get up at 4:15 a.m. tomorrow because of speech, but I'm still thankful it's Friday! It's been a long week, even though I took Monday off as a vacation day, and I am very eagerly anticipating next Friday for two reasons. 1) We do not have a speech meet next Saturday, so Friday truly will be the last workday of the week. 2) Fuller House drops on Netflix next Friday. I absolutely cannot wait! In fact, I'm so excited, that practically all of my favorites could revolve around Fuller House ... but I'll restrain myself to one!

1. Fuller House Cast on The Tonight Show
While I've seen lots of Fuller House things in the last few weeks, this is invariably my favorite. I love pretty much everything about it!


2. Detoxinista's No Bake Peanut Butter Cup Pie
Basically, I've gone all-in with peanut butter. (Just ask my speech kids. I have a jar of peanut butter that I pull out at each meet.) I made this peanut butter cup pie as individual cupcake-pies for a Valentine's Day treat (and then I forgot to get them out when my friends were over!), and the flavor was phenomenal! However, I decided the almond meal chocolate crust was unnecessary, so I made the recipe again leaving it out and putting the peanut butter filling in mini cupcake liners. It worked wonderfully! (I also reduced the amount of sweetener a bit--the original recipe tastes wonderful, but it's also very sweet.)

I store these in the freezer and get one out when I need a dab of sweetness. So, so good!

3. This Shirt

Ten years ago, I bought this shirt on sale at Younkers. There must have been some magic going on in the dressing room, 'cause when I got home, I realized the shirt didn't fit at all. But it was a final sale item, so returning it wasn't an option. Over the years, I cleaned out my closet multiple times, but the shirt always remained ... even though it was way too small. But yesterday I pulled it out again, and it fit! I absolutely love it. It's comfy, it's not too low, and it has a very interesting neckline. I'd go back and buy more in other colors ... if it wasn't a 2006 design!

As you can see, I still haven't quite mastered the art of the mirror selfie :-)




4. The Flash
Yes, The Flash has been one of my Friday Favorites before. But right now, it's firing on all cylinders, and I just need to gush a bit. (If you don't watch The Flash, feel free to skip down to my 5th favorite.)

Incorporating Earth-2 into this season of The Flash has added so much to the show. Not only did it allow Tom Cavanagh (Harrison Wells) to remain on the show, but Barry, Cisco, and Wells' recent trip to Earth-2 made for two of the most fun hours of TV I've seen in a long time. On Earth-2, Barry's mother is still alive, Barry is married to Iris (who is a police detective), and Barry is most definitely not The Flash.

Not only was it fun to see the doppelgangers of "our" characters (including Killer Frost and Reverb), but a mysterious new character came into play--the "man in the iron mask" who was held in Zoom's lair. Through some kind of coded communication, he got Barry and Wells' daughter to realize he was trying to say "Jay Garrick"--and he became very upset when Barry said that Jay was safe on our Earth. Is the man in the iron mask the real Jay? Is he warning Barry about Jay? Is he (and this is my favorite fan theory so far) Iris' dead fiance Eddie Thawne? And who is Zoom? So many questions--and I can't wait to uncover the answers!

(Not on the Flash bandwagon yet, but you'd like to check it out? Season one is now on Netflix.)

5. If I Run by Terri Blackstock
If you like suspense, you'll want to check out If I Run, the first novel in a new series by Terri Blackstock. Here's part of what I said in my review:

If I Run is fascinating, fast-paced suspense. It is written in first-person, present tense, alternating between Casey's and Dylan's point of view. While this perspective took a bit to get used to, once I did, I felt like I was right there with Casey and Dylan, experiencing the action as they did.

Once I finished the novel, I wished that I could pick up book two immediately!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and feel free to let me know your own favorites! I'm linking up with the usuals: Erika, Karli, and April.

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two snow days, otherwise known as "i needed this"

Every year, speech season just about kills me. Not literally, though it does take quite the toll on my body. (Thank you for that, Hashimoto's.) When we reach February, we're about a third of the way through the season, but we're halfway through the really intense "speech meet every Saturday" part.

And I'm exhausted.

So when I heard Winter Storm Kayla was heading our way, I was hopeful for a day off school. (By the way, when did we start naming winter storms? That's a recent development, right?) Turns out, we got two--because boy did we ever get hammered by the snow!

I am so, so thankful for this time off! I haven't done much--reading, TV watching, a little cooking, and of course the dreaded snow shoveling--and it's been absolutely fantastic. This afternoon, my mom came over, and we finished up Downton Abbey. What a great way to spend a Wednesday afternoon!

My backyard last night.

Snow day 1 has been a much needed break. Looking forward to day 2! #winterstormkayla #catsofinstagram #theflash #aip #amreading #skaara

A photo posted by Becky Ritta (@beckyritta) on Feb 2, 2016 at 5:13pm PST

My front door this morning. That's a 19" drift!

My backyard this morning. The deepest drift measured 22".

So thankful for my friends' husbands who came to dig me out this afternoon! #winterstormkayla

A photo posted by Becky Ritta (@beckyritta) on Feb 3, 2016 at 12:04pm PST

I have to jump right back into the thick of it tomorrow with our annual student council sponsored blood drive, but today? Today I'm savoring. Thank you, Lord, for this break!

Update: Just got the call--we have another snow day tomorrow. Roads in town are decent now, but apparently the gravel is a mess. Plus, our kids come from all over the area, and some other towns are in pretty awful shape. I can't remember ever having three snow days in a row before ... but I'm certainly not complaining!

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read with us: a book you can read in a day

As it's January 31st, it's time to tell you about the books we read for the 2016 MMD reading challenge! Unfortunately, Steph didn't have time to get her book read (because we didn't tell her about the challenge until last week), but our mom did, so she's going to jump in in Steph's place.

Our books this month are Bird Silence, The Little Prince, and The Wedding Chapel.

Bird Silence by Matthew Roth
Susan (Mom) says:
My cousin, Matthew Roth, has published this slim volume of his poems. Having never read it, I decided it was the perfect book for the first challenge.

I have always loved poetry...I had a real love affair with Rupert Brooke poetry when I was in high school, but that is a story for another day. I enjoyed reading Bird Silence and definitely enjoyed some of the poems more than others.

"Calling" was my favorite, with a sweet section about a young boy, "not yet two" who is quietly calling out from his room in the still-dark of the early morning his "tiny sing-song liturgy." His father hears and goes to "swoop down on him, whispering his own name in return."

While not everyone will enjoy Bird Silence, it is a worthwhile read for poetry lovers.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Val says:
I read The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, published in 1943.  This is a book you could definitely finish in a day, probably in an hour. It is short, there are lots of illustrations, and the print is big. So this is an easy way to up your “have-read” count for 2016.

The basic plot is that a pilot crash-lands in the desert, and it is here that he meets the Little Prince.  Although apparently human, the Little Prince is not from earth – he is from a planet whose name is never given, but we do know it is as small as a house, and the Little Prince is essentially its caretaker – pulling weeds (a necessity on such a small planet, for were he to let them grow too big, their roots would pull the planet apart), raking out the volcanoes (very small volcanoes, and only two are active), and tending to the flowers.  One flower in particular is very fickle and vain, and while he loves the flower, and she loves the Little Prince, a misunderstanding with her causes him to decide to leave his home and explore other worlds. The Little Prince visits several worlds before landing on earth.  The pilot grows to love the Little Prince, for he reminds him what it is like to live with the heart and eyes of a child, something the pilot longs to do again.  One of the main themes of the book is the way a child’s logic is often much simpler, cleaner, and far more magical than an adult’s mundane explanations of the world.

While technically a children’s book, I think it would have more of a lasting resonance with adults.  There’s a sense of wistfulness and longing throughout the book – the Little Prince longs to return to his home and his flower, the pilot longs to return to who he was and the things he loved as a child.  I can distinctly remember thinking as a child, “Why don’t grown-ups understand kids? When I’m a grown-up, I’ll remember how I feel right now. I’ll still get it.” Fast-forward 20 years to me now, stymied every week by the actions of the kindergarteners I corral on Wednesday nights…

This was one of those books I am glad to have read so I know what it is about. It did capture my attention, and it made me think about who I was as a child vs. who I am now. I would say it is worth reading at some point in your life, but I wouldn’t call it a MUST READ.

The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck
Becky says:
I read The Wedding Chapel in one afternoon--the first Saturday in January, which was also my last free Saturday for eight weeks, thanks to my speech meet schedule. At 368 pages, it's not a book that everyone could read in a day, but it is a very quick, easy read. I chose it because, well, I happened to read it in a day, and with speech starting up, I knew I wouldn't have much time for "extra" (beyond my book reviews) reading.

The Wedding Chapel is a dual timeline story, taking place in the 1940s-50s and in the present. Jimmy Westbrook fell in love with Colette Greer the moment he first saw her picture. Their romance seemed picture perfect until wrong choices, jealousy, and misunderstandings drove them apart. Taylor Branson, Colette's grand-niece, connects with Jimmy when she is hired to photograph the wedding chapel he built for Colette decades earlier. She's having a bit of a romance crisis of her own--she married Jack, her high school crush, soon after reconnecting with him in the city, and their marriage is on rocky ground. As Jimmy, Colette, Taylor, and Jack's stories intertwine, secrets are revealed and healing finally occurs.

While many romance novels are mere fluff (and believe me, I do enjoy fluff!), The Wedding Chapel has a depth to it that makes the story rich and fulfilling. The four main characters, while not always likeable, are wholly fleshed out and completely interesting. It's the kind of story that keeps your attention and touches your heart. This is a beautifully romantic and compelling novel about secrets, sin's consequences, family, and redemption that will stick with you beyond the final page.

I would recommend The Wedding Chapel to anyone who enjoys inspirational fiction--it's one of the best novels I've read in a long time! (Of course, I also reviewed it on my book review blog. You can read the review here.)

Are you doing the reading challenge? If so, tell us about your January book in the comments--or leave a link to your blog post about it!

Next month, we'll be reading a book chosen by a relative. I chose Val's book, she chose mine, our brother Andrew chose Steph's, and Steph chose Mom's. We'll check back in with you on February 28. Until then, happy reading!

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read with us: mmd's 2016 reading challenge

About a year ago, my sister Val introduced me to Modern Mrs. Darcy. Anne (or MMD, as we like to call her) blogs about a lot of things, and one of those things is books. So of course I like her!

Last year, Val participated in MMD's 2015 reading challenge, and this year, our sister Steph and I have decided to join her. Each month, we'll read a book from the same category, and then we'll share our thoughts here on the blog. At the end of the post, I'll tell you which category we're doing the following month, so you can join in if you'd like. (You can read all about the reading challenge here on MMD's site.)

I haven't made all my picks yet, and some I don't own, but here's a glimpse at a few of the books I'll be reading this year.

Now, I want to introduce you to my sisters. I've talked about them repeatedly, but here they are in brief:

Val came into my life when I was six years old, at a time when I desperately wanted a little sister. Unfortunately, said little sister didn't desperately want me. I adored her; she kind of hated me. That love-hate relationship continued basically until we were both adults (and trust me, the love-hate went both ways!); we didn't truly become friends until she was a senior in high school ... and now I can't imagine life without her!

I also like to take credit for her marriage to the love of her life. If I hadn't chosen Grace after finding it online (still an unusual way to find a school back in 2001), she probably wouldn't have chosen Grace herself or moved back there a few years after she graduated ... and then she wouldn't have met Greg. You're welcome, Val.

She and Greg adopted an adorable furball named Chloe last summer, and we enjoy swapping cat stories. All. The. Time.

We share a passionate love for reading, though our tastes are wildly different ... so you'll get a look at a wide variety of books through this series!

Three years after Val came along, Steph arrived ... and she did like me! Needless to say, I spoiled her. Shortly after her arrival, our mom took a secretarial job, so basically, I became Steph's second mother. We definitely had rocky times, too ... but things got vastly better after I returned home following college. (Maybe the problem was me???)

Steph did not follow us to Grace--she chose a different Grace! (Which is where our parents met. So out of our immediate family, my brother is the only one to not attend a school named Grace.)

Steph graduated last spring, and she works in insurance. She also writes a wicked-hilarious Bachelor recap on her blog, The Singing Barista.

One of Steph's passions is baking--if you live in the Omaha area and need someone to make amazing cupcakes, she's your girl! (Unfortunately, I can't eat anything she bakes anymore--maybe one day I'll get her to experiment with gluten free baking!)

Steph and I have very similar tastes in movies and TV shows (I'll always fondly remember the summer of Dawson's Creek), but I honestly have no idea what books she reads, so it'll be fun for me to see what she chooses!

I know it's late notice, but our January category is A Book You Can Finish in a Day. Join in if you'd like, and I'll be posting our thoughts on our books on Sunday!

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five friday favorites #21: week of jan. 22, 2016

It's Friday!!! I'd be more excited if it was a Friday in March and I didn't have to get up at 4 a.m. tomorrow for a speech meet, but such is life. Let's get on with the favorites!

1. Peanut Butter Cookies

You've probably seen those flourless peanut butter cookie recipes floating around. You know, the ones that are just peanut butter, sugar, and an egg? Right after I went gluten free, I made them a lot. And now that I've successfully reintroduced peanut butter, I decided to try them again. (I know, I know--peanut butter isn't paleo. I. DON'T. CARE. My goal has always been to be healthy and eat more natural foods--not be paleo.) The cookies were good, but I had a feeling they could be better. After some experimenting, I think I've landed on the perfect combination: natural peanut butter, coconut sugar, egg, baking soda, vanilla, salt, and chocolate chips. These cookies come out perfectly crispy on the edges--just like my mom's gluten-filled peanut butter cookies. So delicious! (Recipe to come soon.)

2. Spotify's Discover Weekly Playlist

If you have a Spotify account and haven't checked out your personal Discover Weekly playlist, you're missing out. Not only has this playlist introduced me to some great new music, but it's also hilarious at times to see just how off base the songs can be. For example: The very first week, a song by Alan Jackson was in the playlist. Um, really? Alan Jackson is country country. Spotify should know by now that I only ever listen to pop country ... and even then, it's a rarity. Or this week, when there are two wedding songs in my playlist. Sure, I'll listen to a love song now and again, but wedding songs? They kinda make me want to puke ... probably because of my perpetual singleness.

Still, I love checking in on my new playlist each Monday morning when I get to work. I'm sure you'll enjoy your playlist, too.

3. DC's Legends of Tomorrow

First off, let's be honest--is anyone going to call this show by its full name? No. It will just be Legends of Tomorrow.

Anyway.

Legends of Tomorrow premiered last night, and I loved it. It features characters introduced on The Flash and Arrow, and it looks to be a rollicking good time. Not sure if you'll like it? The pilot is free on Amazon, Google Play, and iTunes for a limited time. If you do check it out, I'd love to know what you think!

4. That Gal ... Who was in That Thing

A few years ago, I watched a fascinating documentary on Netflix called That Guy ... Who Was in That Thing. (Unfortunately, it's not longer on Netflix.) It's about character actors and their quest to make it in Hollywood. Now, a follow up film has been made, this time featuring women. I watched it last weekend during a free Showtime preview on Hulu. It's just as captivating as That Guy, if not more so. The women discuss the struggle to get cast as anything but a grandmother as they age, the difficult choices they had to make regarding family and career, wage inequality, and a variety of other things. I'd definitely suggest checking it out if you get the chance! (If you have Amazon Prime, you can add a Showtime subscription for $8.99/month, but you get a 7-day free trial. I did that with Starz and watched a ton of movies over Christmas break--you just have to remember to cancel!)

5. I Hope You Dance by Beth Moran
This week's book recommendation is the delightfully charming I Hope You Dance by British author Beth Moran. I read Moran's Making Marion in 2014, and it was quirky and humorous. I Hope You Dance is even better.

I Hope You Dance is, in a word, delightful. While Ruth deals with serious issues like debt, stalking, teenage rebellion, and family drama, the story never feels heavy. I think much of this is due to the supporting characters--colorful women who stand by Ruth's side through thick and thin and whose personalities bring joy and humor amidst the drama. These characters are so vividly drawn that I felt as though I knew them.

You can see the rest of my review here.

Thanks for stopping by! I'm linking up with the usuals: Erika, Karli, and April.

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